Protective device for infants



l. E. BETTS PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR INFANTS Nov. 27, 1956 Filed April l, 1955 PROTECTIVE DEVICE Fon INEANTS Irene E. Betts, Lincoln, Nebr., assigner of one-half to Elsie l. Boyd, Lincoln, Nebr.

Application April 1, 1955, Serial No. 498,565

Claims. (Cl. 12S- 287) This :invention relates to protective devices such as are adapted to `be used in combination with baby pant-s, and in particular a cushioning pad incorporated in a protective garment adapted to be positioned over a pair of baby pants with a circular section at the back and a V-shaped section at lthe front, and in which the sections at the front and back are connected with a narrow section having arcuate or concave edges and adapted to extend through the crotch.

The purpose of this invention is Ito provide cushioning means in a garment adapted to be used over a pair of baby pants for protecting the ybuttocks and particularly the base of the spine of an infant upon which the device is positioned, and which .also protects lthe areas through the crotch.

Various types of protective pads and cushions have been used in combination with garments for infants, however, such devices are attached to the garments with straps or other fastening devices and, consequently, are cumbersome and do not presenta neat and attractive appearance. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a protecting cushioning device particularly adapted to be used in combination with baby pants in which the cushioning device is incorporated in a protective garment form-ing an integral part thereof.

The object of this invention is', therefore, to provide means for incorporating a cushioning pad in a garment for infants in which the pad forms an integral part of the garment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective pad for baby pants that is permanently installed in the garment in which the pad protects the buttocks and the area through the crotch.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a protective cover for a pair of baby pants, having a cushioning element therein in which the said cushioning element is protected from moisture by a covering that is impervious to moisture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment for infants in which means is provided for protecting the base of the spine should an infant upon which the garment is positioned fall upon an object that may injure the spine.

A still further object is to provide cushioning means in a protective cover for a pair of baby pants for protecting the buttocks and base of the spine and also the area through the crotch in which the garment is of a simple and economical con-struction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a protective garment having a rear portion and a front portion with the front and rear portions connected by a portion adapted to extend through the crotch and a cushioning pad also having a rear portion and a front portion connected with a crotch portion and in which the cushioning pad is covered with a layer of material, such as cotton, nylon, or other suitable material on one side and a layer of material impervious to moisture on the other or inner side, the edges of said 2,77 l,88l Patented Nov. 27, e

layers of material being secured together by stitching or the like, and the upper edges of the said front and rear portions being provided with elastic bands.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of the improved protective garment with part of the material on one side broken away showing the cushioning pad therein.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the garment.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the garment with the parts folded as the garment appears in use.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the garment also with the parts as they appear in use.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above referred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration, and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout, and in which the numeral 10 refers to the invention in its entirety, numeral 12 indicating a rear portion of a garment, numeral 14 a front portion which is connected to the rear portion with a crotch portion 16, numeral 18 a rear section of a cushioning pad, numeral 20 a V-shaped front section of the pad, numeral 22 an inner layer of material which is impervious to water, covering the inner surface of the garment, numeral 24 an outer layer of material or cover which is preferably cotton, nylon, or some other suitable material, such as may have an ornamental design thereon, numeral 26 an elastic band extended through a tunnel at the upper edge of the rear portion of the garment, numeral 28 an elastic band positioned in a tunnel in the upper edge of the front portion, `and numeral 3i) fasteners for securing the side edges of the front portion to corresponding edges of the rear portion.

The cushioning pad, which is positioned over the buttocks, or to cover the base of the spine, is formed of a cushioning material, such as sponge rubber or the like, and, as shown in Figure l, the pad is secured to the inner layer of material 22 and cover 24 with stitches 32, -or the pad may be retained in position by a suitable adhesive or by other means. The intermediate portion of the pad is formed with arcuate inwardly extended edges 34 and 36, and the edges of the layers of material of the garment are provided with similar arcuate in wardly extended or concave recesses 38 and 45. The edges 38 and 4t? are also secured together by stitches, as indicated by the numerals 42 and 44.

The upper edges of the inner layer of material 22, which may be plastic, `and the cover are secured together at the back with rows of stitches i6 and 4S between which the elastic band 26 is positioned, and the upper edges of the inner layer of material 22 and the cover 24 are held together by rows of stitches S0 and 52 between which the elastic band 28 is positioned. With the ends of the elastic bands 26 and 28 retained in the ends of tunnels formed by the rows of stitching held by stitches or the like gathers or shirring will be formed in the upper edges of the front and rear portions 14 and 12, when the device is in position on an infant, as shown in Figure 3, as indicated by the numeral 54.

With the cushioning pad secured in position between the inner layer of material 22 and the outer -cover 24 the protective device may be placed over a pair of diapers or the like and the lower parts of an infant will be protected from shocks and the like, such as resulting from a fall.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that the invention disclosed Will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner, and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish, and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A protective garment comprising a rear portion and a front potrion connected to the rear portion with a portion adapted to extend through the crotch and having arcuate recesses therein, and a protective cushioning pad having a circular section positioned in the rear portion and having a narrow section extended through the crotch and integral with a V-shaped section in the front portion.

2. A protective garment comprising an inner layer of material and an outer layer of material, and a cushioning pad positioned between said layers of material, said cushioning pad including a circular section positioned in one end of the garment and between the inner and outer layers of material, and a V-shaped section in the opposite end and also positioned between the inner and outer layers of material.

3. A protective garment comprising an inner layer of material impervious to moisture, an outer layer of ma- 4 terial, and a cushioning pad positioned between said layers of material, said layers of material and pad having front and rear sections connected with a section adapted to extend through the crotch, and the periphery of the cushioning pad being spaced inwardly from the edges of the garment.

4. A protective garment having a rear section, and a front section, the front section being connected to the rear section with a section adapted to extend through the crotch, a cushioning pad also having a rear section and a front section with the front section .also connected to the rear section with a section adapted to extend through the crotch, the peripheral edge of the cushioning pad being spaced inwardly from the edges 0f the garment, and elastic bands in upper edges of said front and rear sections.

5. In a protective garment, the combination which comprises .an inner layer of material impervious to moisture, said layer of material having a rear portion and a front portion and said front portion being connected to the rear portion with a portion adapted to extend through the crotch, the portion adapted to extend through the crotch having arcuate inwardly extended recesses in the edges, an outer layer of fabric patterned to correspond with the inner layer, a cushioning pad having a circular section positioned in the rear portion of the garment and a V-shaped section positioned in the front portion and said V-shaped section being connected to the circular section with a section having arcuate` inwardly extended recesses in the edges and adapted to extend through the crotch, said cushioning pad being mounted between the inner and outer layers of material and being held in position by stitches extended around the edge thereof, the upper edges of said front and rear portions of the inner and outer layers of material being stitched to provide tunnels therein, and elastic bands positioned in said tunnels, the ends of said bands being stitched to said layers of materials.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,468,445 Hurst Apr. 26, 1949 2,621,327 Amoroso Dec. 16, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 862,026 France Nov. 22, 1940 

